Create a Web Server - Node.js

Question

What is Web Server?

Web servers are computers that deliver (serves up) Web pages. Every Web server has an IP address and possibly a domain name.

How to create a web server in Node.js?

Using HTTP library will create a server.So first using require keyword will include the Http library.

Example:

var http = require("http");

Also you need host name and port number for creating the server.So set the Host Name and port number

Example:

var host = "127.0.0.1";
var port = "1337";

Creating a server
Server protocol will listen for host and port number.So next We can add the code to handle the requests, and to deliver a response.
Using createServer function will handle a request and response.This function will comes under http library.

Example :

var server = http.createServer(function(request,response){
response.writeHead(200,{"content-type":"text/plain"});
response.end("Hello World");
});

You can set the response text by using wirteHead method.

Then using listen function listen the host and port for the server

Example:

server.listen(host,port,function(){
console.log("Listening " + host + ":" + port );
});

So,Now you Successfully created the webserver.

See the Whole Example

var http = require("http");
console.log("Starting");
var host = "127.0.0.1";
var port = "1337";
var server = http.createServer(function(request,response){
console.log(request.url);
response.writeHead(200,{"content-type":"text/plain"});
response.end("Hello World");
});

server.listen(host,port,function(){
console.log("Listening " + host + ":" + port );
});

How to Run a server?

node server.js

Output for Above program
After running the program it will listen the host and port.Then in browser whenever reaches the host and port then it will receive the response

While Running It will Listening the port

Starting
Listening 127.0.0.1:1337

After reaching the port in browser the output will be

 Starting
 Listening 127.0.0.1:1337
 Received request:/

Then in browser it will display the Hello World.